Not of This World

John 17:11-19

     I have to confess - I'm not very good at figuring out acronyms. Those three to five letters, all capitalized, could mean anything - the possibilities and configurations are mind-boggling to me!
So, it's not surprising that I found myself puzzling out a sticker placed on the rear window of a car in front of me at a stop light. The letters NOTW were written there. More confession- I never figured it out. I asked my daughter if she knew what it meant when we saw the same sticker on another car one day. Sometimes she doubts my sanity, but patiently replied, "Not of This World, Mom".

     Hmm... Not of This World.

     Jesus is about to leave earth, and He's praying for His disciples. He knows all of them are His, except one - Judas Iscariot, who is about to betray Him. He's given them the Word of God, spoken God's truth to them and patiently taught them with words, and miracles and His example. He's promised He won't leave them alone, but will send the Holy Spirit to continue to guide them in truth (John 16:12-15). We know the religious leaders hated Him, it tells us this many times throughout John. Their hate led to action, Jesus knew He would soon be crucified.

     Jesus states a fact - as the world had hated Him, they would also hate His followers. Why? Because
they were Not Of The World! Just like He wasn't!

     They were set apart by the truth - the truth of His Word. It wasn't enough to follow the law, though it's important to obey God's Law . Jesus revealed what was in their hearts. "You shall not commit adultery", was written in God's law. Jesus taught that,"whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28) The Truth holds us to a different standard than what is acceptable to the world. Following the Truth is more than a change of what you do - a resolution to be better, if you will - it is a change of heart that leads to a change in what you do.

     NOTW, that's what Jesus says about Himself - and us, when we put our faith in Him!